The life and times of a motoring and motor rallying journalist in Scotland

Friday, 7 October 2016

Rally - Motorsport News

'Motorsport News' the
last remaining weekly motorsports newspaper in the UK has been sold to the 'world’s
largest digital motorsport company', the USA based Motorsport Network corporation
which operates globally out of Miami.

It has also acquired 'Autosport
Magazine' and 'Autosport.com', 'F1 Racing magazine', LAT Photographic, and
the rights to the 'Autosport International – The Racing Car
Show' and the end of season 'The Autosport Awards' show.

What the future holds for these well known British brands is
uncertain but Motorsport Network made its reputation in the digital age, not
the print generation! However, the new owners are keen "to preserve the
rich heritage in Haymarket’s motorsport businesses. Its fans, followers and
customers can continue to seamlessly enjoy the world’s best-loved racing
websites, magazines and blue-riband events."

Best known for its 'Motorsport.com' and 'Motor1.com' website brands,
Motorsport Network broadcasts digitally to 75 million people every month across
22 website editions operating in 16 languages.

Commenting on the announcement, Kevin Costello, CEO of the
Haymarket Media Group, said: “Motor racing has formed part of the
Haymarket portfolio for almost half a century and the company has nurtured
these businesses from their origins to be global category leaders. However, we
are reassured that the Motorsport Network are the right people to be custodians
of these businesses for the next stage of their investment and development.”

The acquisition and integration of the Haymarket motorsport
portfolio into Motorsport Network will be stewarded by its Chairman, Zak Brown:
“This
milestone in acquiring the businesses that Haymarket has grown over decades
will be recognised by everyone in the industry as a mark of our intent. All
that is best about Autosport and its sister businesses will be preserved."

"Supported with
investment and aligned with our dynamic organisational culture and high-speed
growth that is attracting younger demographics to motorsport, the fusion of
these two organisations presents tantalising opportunities for our staff and
our clients alike,” he said.

This latest news on the motorsports broadcasting front follows American
based Liberty Media's approach to buy the rights to Formula 1 motor racing. All
we need now is for the Americans to make a bid for Mull, but seriously, is the
writing on the wall for print media - or on the screen?